The formal response to accusations that Republican Corporation Commission candidates Rep. Tom Forese and Doug Little violated the rules of Arizona's public financing system attempted to explain how they paid for campaign signs and nominating signatures. But it raised more questions about their overall campaign spending and compliance with the law.

Construction firms and groups closely associated with the county’s public hospital contributed nearly 80 percent of the $910,000 raised for a campaign to convince voters to approve financing for a new medical center and revamped health system.

In a recent television commercial, GOP gubernatorial candidate Christine Jones boasts that her ad wasn’t paid for by special interests, but with money that she earned herself. Campaign finance reports show how serious she was.

Lucy Mason and Vernon Parker, Republicans hoping to fill two vacant seats on the state’s energy and water regulating commission, say they have been libeled by a local anti-taxation group that sent a secretly funded campaign mailer slamming them and lauding two other Republican candidates.

Campaign finance reports aren’t due until June 30, but Ducey and Scott Smith both jumped out early to announce their million-dollar fundraising hauls for the last period, which wrapped up at the end of May.

WASHINGTON – With a year until the next election, Democratic freshmen in three competitive Arizona congressional districts are continuing to stockpile cash for their re-election bids, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

Almost daily, Arizona politicians face an army of lobbyists who are ready to spend money on dinners, drinks, parties and travel, aimed at currying favor and eventually bending the public policy agenda toward the will of their sometimes deep-pocketed clients. ...